AIM: To correlate the effects of the respiratory muscular training (RMT) in the pre-operative period of esophagectomies, with the post-operative pulmonary complications. METHODS: Forty patients were randomically submitted to two groups: 20 patients with RMT during 5 day/week (1 to 4 weeks pre-operatively) and 20 patients without RMT (control group). PImax, Pemax, pulmonary function test, arterial blood gas analyses and cirtometry data were collected before RMT, at the end of each week of training and in the 7th post-operative day. RMT consisted on bicycle (15 minutes); threshold (15 minutes), CPAP (15 minutes), inspirometer (3 series of 15 repetitions) and ventilatory patterns (3 series of 15 repetitions). All patients were treated by trans-mediastinal esophagectomies. RESULTS: An increase of PEmax (P< 0.05) and PImax (P< 0.05) during the 4 weeks of RMT was found. There was a decrease of PEmax and PImax in both groups in the post-operative period, however, the length on intensive care unit (1-4 days vs 1-17 days) and hospital stay (12-18 days vs 19-46 days) in the trained group was shorter. The respiratory complications were lower in RMT group. CONCLUSION: Respiratory muscular training is important in increasing the respiratory muscles force and endurance and, consequently, better surgical recovery with minor intensive unit and hospital staying.
Breathing exercises; Muscle strength; Physical therapy modalities; Surgery; Esophagectomy
